BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship: Role or imprinted nutrient transporters in fetal growth and development

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Technical Summary

The overall objective of this fellowship application is to study the role of imprinted nutrient transporters in fetal growth and development. The specific aims are: 1) To study the role of the imprinted amino-acid transporter Slc38a4 in fetal and placental physiology; 2) To identify novel imprinted nutrient transporter genes by using genomic approaches and perform functional studies by using conditional knock-out technologies.

Publications

10 25 50
publication icon
Angiolini E (2011) Developmental adaptations to increased fetal nutrient demand in mouse genetic models of Igf2-mediated overgrowth. in FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

publication icon
Coan PM (2011) Dietary composition programmes placental phenotype in mice. in The Journal of physiology

publication icon
Dilworth MR (2010) Placental-specific Igf2 knockout mice exhibit hypocalcemia and adaptive changes in placental calcium transport. in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

publication icon
Fowden AL (2009) Placental efficiency and adaptation: endocrine regulation. in The Journal of physiology

publication icon
Lash GE (2010) IFPA Meeting 2009 workshops report. in Placenta

 
Description We made several discoveries:
1- shown that Igf2 is a major genetic regulator of both nutrient supply and fetal demand for maternal nutrients
2- the placenta adapts functionally to fetal demand signals by up regulating nutrient transporters
3- System A aminoacid transporters are essential nutrient supply signals to the fetus and major determinants of fetal growth
Exploitation Route We developed unique transgenic mouse strains that model human intra-uterine growth restriction by manipulating Igf2 or system A amino-acid transporters. The Igf2 models have been sent out to more than 10 labs around the world for further studies on diverse aspects of biology of this growth factor, ranging from neurogenesis and stem cells to immunity and bone growth.
Sectors Education

Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology